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At 11:40pm last night, I submitted my hopeful entry to Real Simple magazine’s 4th Annual Life Lessons Contest – just 10 minutes shy of the official deadline.

I had a heart attack at 11:00pm, when it occurred to me that I didn’t confirm which time zone the 11:50 cut off was. I had another when I didn’t get an email confirmation of receipt within 30 seconds of my sending it. It took 60 seconds instead.

I’m actually kind of surprised. I mean, I know I said I’d do it. But seriously?! I just entered a writing contest because I have a blog where I pressure myself publicly to step outside my comfort zone. Hey, that’s pretty cool.

So allow me to encourage you all to do something this weekend that you’ve always considered but never done. Maybe it’s to go in a shop you’ve always wanted to check out or to try eating at a place you don’t know if you’ll like. There could be a class to take, a part of town to check out, a person you’ve wanted to strike up conversation with… whatever your Lollipop is, give it a try. And if you don’t have anything on the backburner, check out my “What’s Lollipop Tuesday?” page for loads of suggestions from readers like yourself.

I’m serious.

The best part of having a blog is my readers. I’m so interested to see what it is that you’ve never quite gotten around to or what it is that you just wish you had a little more guts for. Make it happen for yourself this weekend.

Listen – I entered a writing contest. And pickle wentswing dancing. Swing dancing! They throw you around and make you wear skirts and things!

So do something new. Just a little something. Post about it in the comment section as a statement of intent.

If I can pole dance, reenact the Battle of Bull Run, and enter the World Pinball Championships, you can try something new too. Believe me. Just give it a shot and see what happens. If it ends up a mess, you can come share it with me and we’ll both have a laugh. That’s half the fun.

Go ahead – write a comment and take the plunge. I’m so looking forward to it. ♣

This is you thinking of a challenge for yourself. Take your time. This post is here all day.

28 Responses to “Take the Plunge: A Reader Lollipop Challenge”

That nearly gave ME heart attack. I looked at your blog, checked with the calendar, Yes, today is Friday……It is not Tuesday
So i wondered why a Lollipop on a Friday, maybe YOU were the one who was confused!
Then of course I read it, always a good idea

I have been thinking of joining a Yoga class. I used to love Yoga but since I have got a lot older I cannot get back up from the floor unless I have something to lean on for support. Also I have put on a lot of weight so that does not help, but I will seriously consider the matter.
Good post

It’s never too late to start exercising, as long as your doctor is ok with it. Seriously – the older we get, the more we need to get going. Move it or lose it isn’t just a bumper sticker slogan. You can do it!

Um.. er.. Well I tried to watch a horror film last weekend ( I spit on your grave ) and had to turn it off… seriously I wouldn’t watch that film it’s sick.
I’m thinking of taking up swimming again – will that count?
Have a good weekend

Well, tonight I’m trying a new restaurant. Authentic German food, straight from the hard working hands of an immigrant. That’s kind of cool, eh? And come tomorrow I hope to be making funnel cakes. (Which, to be fair, I’ve done before. But only in small incriments and supervised. I think I managed to prove myself last year, so I’m hoping I won’t need my hand held this time around.) And on Monday I’ll be celebrating my boyfriend’s 29th birthday. Which, you know, will be a first. He’s never turned 29 before.

I really want to help you out here, I do, but this weekend it’s gonna me be against furniture stores. Spending crazy amounts of money on a couch, a bed and other stuff of that sort. Never done it before but I guess that doesn’t count for a lollipop Tuesday?

hmm… I don’t know if it meets the requirements, but I suppose I’ve never really set any official requirements. Try to think of something tiny you can squeeze in. Or – there’s always next weekend / your whole life 😉

Man the world is a funny place. I’m running my 1st 5k this weekend! Don’t worry, this wasn’t a spur of the moment decision….i’ve been training. I’m a little nervous cuz I just heard this course has a lot of hills. But, I already knew I’d have to walk a little, and if I walk up a big ole hill I won’t feel so bad.

I saw that contest in the Real Simple magazine…good luck to you…i’m rooting for ya!

Thanks for the shoutout Jackie!! 🙂 In the newspaper I saw an announcement for a meditation class at the local Buddhist temple and I totally wanted to do it, but alas I lost the times/address so now I am stuck trying to meditatate without any training…I have always wanted to get a bumper sticker that says “Be kind, rewind.” on it. Bumper sticker Lollipop Weekend? I think so.

Gooooogle it! Or yes, there are lots of little meditation things you can do/look up/find/buy. Or the bumper sticker counts if you don’t have one already and you drive around all day proudly sporting it 😉

I guess I found my something tiny to sqeeze in, getting uo at 5:30 on a saturday to go furniture shopping… I must be completely out of my mind. That, and still half asleep. I better find something great out there!

Oh holy cow, Lian. When you said furniture shopping all weekend, I didn’t know you meant from the freaking crack of dawn until you die at night from exhaustion. Good luck to you friend – I hope you fall in love instantly with something lovely, affordable, and able to compact into the size of your hand for easy moving 😉

OK I changed my mind, swimming isn’t enough of a challenge ( finding the time to go between taking various kids everywhere is the challenge ).
SO… I challenged myself to get up at 5am this morning and tomorrow so I can watch the Rugby World Cup….. 1 day done let’s see if I make it tomorrow – can I go to bed now please?

I’m scared to death of driving but I booked my theory and I will pass in 2 months. Then I will re attempt my practical lessons.

The last lesson I had I was driving down a dual carriage way and heading towards a round about all I heard the instructor say was “right” and “roundabout”. What he actually said was keep right then go round the roundabout….. 😦 I though